Latch mechanism



W. R. SCHLAGE LATCH MECHANISM Oct. 31, 1939.

W A E U #C R 7 5 a a, Q N m A s h 4 9 mi m V, w fl & w W 7. W/ m 7 6 a 4 m mu l a O MF 2 mi m g o u A i d m V? 1 +1 \7 Patented Oct. 31, 1939 ire "rr E rare LATCH MECHANISM Application August 24, 1936, Serial No. 97,503

4 Claims. (Cl.,292173) This invention relates to a latchmechanism and forms a continuation in part of my 'copending application entitled Lock, filed January 9, 1935, Serial Number 979 matured into Patent No. 2,116,- 001 of May 3, 1938.

'5 The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of latch mechanisms; to provide a latch mechanism which is particularly intended for use on screen doors, and the like, where a key actuated lock is not essential; to provide a latch mechanism, including a latch bolt and a hand grip, and in which the hand grip is pivoted and functions not only to open and close the door but also to retract the latch bolt; to provide means 15 for dogging the latch bolt both in extended and retracted position; and, further, to provide a latch mechanism of the character described which is simple and substantial in construction, economical to manufacture and which, may be easily and quickly installed.

Ihe latch mechanism is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which-- Fig. 1 is a front view of the latch mechanism showing it applied to the stile of a screen door, or the like;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross section of the stile of the door and the latch mechanism mounted therein, said section being taken on line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the stile of a door showing'the holes bored therein;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the latch bolt housing.

Referring'to the drawing in detail, and particularly Figs. 1 and 4, A indicates the stile of a screen door and latch structure in which is formed four openings; one through the edge of the stile, as indicated at B; a second opening is formed through the face of the door, as indicated at C, and it intersects the first bore. In'addition to the holes C, there are two smaller holes indicated at DD. Y

The hole 13 is provided for the reception of a tubular housing 2, which has a friction fit and is pressed into place, its inward movement being limited by a face flange 3. Mounted in the tubular housing is a latch bolt 4 and extending 50 through the latch bolt and into the tubular housing and also through the opposite ends of the opening C is a retractor pin 5, the function of which will hereinafter be described. The tubular housing is slotted, as at t, on opposite sides to permit the retractor pin to pass through and also to limit the reciprocal movement or throw of the latch bolt.

Adapted to besecured to the opposite faces of the stile are a pair of escutcheon plates 7 and 8 which are substantially identical in shape and general appearance. The inner face of the outer plate 8 has secured thereto a pair of hollow internally threaded tubular posts 9, which are adapted to be received by the openings D-D formed in the stile. The inner plate i on the other end is provided with bushings iii-4 t adapted to receive screws ll-l I, said screws extending into the posts andhaving threaded, engagement therewith to clamp and secure the plates to the opposite faces of the stile. The lower bushings I0 do not only functionas guides and openings through which the screws H extend but they also function as a pivotal support for the lower end of a hand grip I 2. The upper end of the hand grip is provided with an opening it through which one end of the retractor pin 5 extends while the extreme uppermost end of the hand grip is provided with a lug I5 adapted to be engaged by a dogging member !6, as will hereinafter be described.

The hand grip 12 serves :two functions, first that of agrip whereby the door is grasped when it is to be opened or closed, and secondly, that of retracting the latchbolt; this last operation being accomplished by merely gripping the hand grip l2 and swinging it in the direction of arrow a. By so swinging the hand grip 52 it imparts inward motion to the retractor pin 5 and as this extends through the latch bolt it will also retract the latch bolt; the retracting or projecting movement of the latch bolt being limited by the length of the slot 6-6 formed in the housing 2.

'In order to relieve the bushing or pivotal point In formed at the lower end of the hand grip from excessive strain when the hand grip is gripped and a pull is exerted on the door means are provided for retaining the upper end of the hand grip, the means illustrated being a cap or overhanging member H which is pressed out of the upper portion of the escutcheon plate. This cap also functions as a guide for the lower end of the dogging member l t as an opening is formed in the cap to receive the dogging member and to permitit to pass through.

The dogging. member consists of a plate l8 which is slotted, as at it, to permit it to be moved up and down on the upper bushing it. A small spring plate l8 placed between the plate l8 and the outer face of the escutcheon plate frictionally retains the plate IS in one position or another. That is, the upper end of the plate is provided with a finger or grip extension 20. When this is grasped and the plate is lifted upwardly the dogging member will assume the position shown at 16 in Fig. 1. On the other hand, if the finger grip is grasped and a downward pressure is exerted, the plate l8 will move downwardly as far as the slot l9 will permit and the dogging member 16 will then be placed in the path of the lug 15 formed on the upper end of the hand grip, thus dogging the hand grip against movement, either when the latch bolt is projected or when it is retracted, as the dogging member can engage either side of the lug l5. A simple means for dogging or locking the latch bolt is thus provided and key mechanism of any character may be eliminated.

The outer escutcheon plate 8 is, as previously stated, substantially identical to the inner plate, the only difference being that no dogging member is required on the exterior surface and in place of pivoting the outer hand grip, shown at IZ on the bushing it is pivoted on the outer end of the post 9. The door may be opened or closed by either hand grip and as both hand grips are pivoted at their lower ends, and as the retractor pin projects through both hand grips, the latch bolt may be retracted by either hand grip and the door may be opened or closed by either hand ip.

In order to simplify the installation of the latch mechanism as a whole means are provided for inserting or removing the retractor pin after the latch bolt housing and latch bolt have been installed. This is accomplished by forming a central annular recess in the retractor pin, as shown at 5 see Fig. 3, and drilling a hole at right angles thereto at the inner end of the latch bolt. A pin 25 extends through this hole and into the annular recess 5 and thus secures the retractor pin against removal with relation to the latch bolt, the pin 25 being held in interlocking position with relation to the retractor pin by means of a head or plate 26 riveted to its outer end which is engaged by means of a spring 21, said spring serving two different functions. First, that of exerting pressure on the head 26 and the pin 25 to maintain it in position with relation to the retractor pin, and secondly, that of exerting pressure on the latch bolt to normally maintain it projected.

In actual operation the mechanism is installed as follows: The tubular housing 2, containing the spring 21, the head 26, the pin 25, and the latch bolt 4, is first inserted through the openings B formed in the edge of the door and pressed into place until the face flange 3 engages the outer face of the stile. A screw driver, or like implement, is then inserted through the opening C between the head 26 and the inner end of the latch. and thus causes a slight retraction of the pin 25 at least sufficient to permit the retractor pin to be inserted. When it is inserted the screw driver is removed and pin 25 will immediately snap into place and thereby secure the retractor pin with relation to the latch bolt 4. The outer escutcheon plate is next applied by inserting the posts in the openings D--D and then pressing the plate inwardly until it lies snugly against the outer face of the stile. During' this movement the outer end of the retractor pin will pass through the opening [4 in the outer hand grip. The inner escutcheon plate is next placed in position against the inner face of the stile with the bushings l0-I0 in alignment with the openings .D-D, and when placed in this position, the inner end of the retractor pin will pass through the opening !4 of the inner hand grip. Screws II are next inserted and tightened so as to clamp the escutcheon plates to the opposite faces of the stile and when this is done the installation is completed.

If for any reason it should be necessary to remove the mechanism as a whole for inspection, repair, or otherwise, it is only necessary to unscrew and remove the screws lll I. This will immediately release both of the escutcheon plates which will then be removed. It is then only necessary to insert a screw driver through the opening C between the head D and the inner end of the bolt so as to cause a slight retraction of the pin 25. This permits removal of the retractor pin 5 and when this is removed the latch bolt housing containing the latch bolt and spring 21 may be removed. The operation of installing or removing the latch mechanism as a whole is thus simply and quickly accomplished.

With the latch mechanism in its place, it will be understood that the latch bolt normally assumes projected position as that is the function of the spring 21, hence to open the door it is only necessary to grasp one handle or the other and to swing them about their lower pivots inwardly or away from the latch bolt. Such movement causes compression of the spring 2! and retraction of the latch bolt. If for any reason it is desired to retain the latch bolt in retracted position, for instance, if the screen door is being constantly opened and closed, it is only necessary to depress the dogging member l6. Such depression will cause engagement between the lugs l5 and I6 and thus retain the latch bolt retracted. On the other hand, if the screen door is closed and it is desired to prevent opening of the door from the exterior, it is only necessary to depress the dogging member when the hand grip and latch bolt assume the position shown in Fig. 1. Depression at this time will dog the latch bolt against retraction by means of the outer handle, the inner handle, or any other means. The door may in this position be considered locked.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a latch mechanism of the character described, an escutcheon plate, a hand grip pivoted to the plate at its lower end and having its upper end free to swing, a raised hood formed on the escutcheon plate in under which the upper end of the hand grip extends and whereby the upper end of the hand grip is guided and retained and its swing movement limited, a lug on the upper end of the hand grip, and a dogging member carried by the escutcheon plate and extending through the hood and movable into or out of engagement with the lug to dog the hand grip against swinging movement.

2. In a latch mechanism of the character described, a latch bolt housing, said housing having a pair of slots formed therein intermediate its ends, a latch bolt reciprocally mounted in the housing, a pair of escutcheon plates, each plate having an elongated opening formed therein, a retractor pin extending through the latch bolt, the slots in the latch bolt housing and the elongated openings in the escutcheon plates, 2, hand grip on each escutcheon plate, said hand grips being pivoted at their lower ends to said plates and having their upper ends free to swing, each of said hand grips having a slot formed in a swinging end to receive a retractor pin whereby, when the hand grips are swung about their pivots, the latch bolt will be retracted.

3. In a lock of the character described a latch bolt, a latch bolt retractor carried by the latch bolt, a pin carried by the latch bolt to dog the latch bolt retractor against removal from the latch bolt, and a spring acting upon the pin and the latch bolt, said spring serving to project position.

4. In a lock of the character described a latch bolt, a latch bolt retractor carried by the latch bolt, said latch bolt retractor having a recess formed therein, a pin carried by the latch bolt and extending into the recess to dog the latch bolt retractor against removal from the latch bolt, abutment means carried by the pin and engageable with a portion of the latch bolt, and a spring engageable with said means and serving to project the latch bolt and to hold the pin 10 

